Topic: Shield Bash

[Dunadan]

I'm running a RM2/RMC campaign and one of the characters wants to develop "Shield Bash" as an attack.

I can't find anything in the core books. Does anyone know if it was provided in any of the other books (Companions etc)? Or how it is handled?

Tx in anticipation

[brole]

Hi. I found some material in the Arms Law classic version on p18. Also some more rules in Companion IV on p14.
All up it's heavily optional how it's handled but the shield bash is portrayed as a crushing weapon attack based on shield type and character mass.

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[Witchking20k]

You can develop Shield Bash a few ways.  I always allowed it as a "brawling" attack using a % of the OB from the weapon being held in the weapon hand....kind of inferring it as part of the fighting style of that weapon.  I used the ram/butt/bash attack table and limited the size to Medium for wall shields, Small for full/normal shields.  Make sure you apply the off-hand penalty too. 
You could certainly develop a skill using too.  You could use the same guidelines as above and the 1H Crush costs for example.  This would not grant a 2nd melee attack obviously....but, I think most GMs house rule that anyway .  Also, you might want to consider the DB implications of a shield being used as a weapon.  Can it be used for both in the same round?  etc. 

[Spectre771]

...

 I used the ram/butt/bash attack table and limited the size to Medium for wall shields, Small for full/normal shields.  Make sure you apply the off-hand penalty too. 
You could certainly develop a skill using too.  You could use the same guidelines as above and the 1H Crush costs for example.  This would not grant a 2nd melee attack obviously....but, I think most GMs house rule that anyway .  Also, you might want to consider the DB implications of a shield being used as a weapon.  Can it be used for both in the same round?  etc.

This is pretty much it in a nutshell.  Shield Bash is developed as a weapon category, using up one of the six weapon costs.  Attacks are resolved on the Ram/Butt/Bash Table.  As it is a unique weapon category, off-hand penalty applies as does using Two Weapon Combo if the player wants to make two attacks per round.  The shield is the weapon in the off-hand.

We do allow the full shield DB even if it's being used for an attack.  For parrying, the OB is reduced from both attacks.  If the player opts to parry with 30 OB, then it is -30 from both attacks (weapon and shield bash).

[Dunadan]

OK... I didn't see the option for Shield Bash in Arms Law. So many rulebooks.. and Companions!

Anyway... my interpretation...

- shield bash on the ram/butt/bash table (max of medium for wall shield or small for others)
- cost as per 1HC
- still allow the shield DB to apply
- shield is an off-hand attack (-20 OB)
- attack with either normal weapon or shield or both
- parry decreases OB from both weapons (and doesn't stack)

Thanks for the input guys

[Malim]

I would use it as TWC.

[Witchking20k]

I suppose you could use TWC.  But, you have to develop both weapons anyway to use a TWC if I recall.  Alos, is the PC a Tika style shield is the weapon character?

[Dunadan]

I don't see any options for TWC as a separate skill in in RMC.

The only mention is that it says that you have to develop the off-hand weapon (in this case shield) separately from the main hand.

eg: if you were using a short sword in both hands, you need to develop short sword (off hand) separately from short sword (main hand).

[brole]

I couldn't find anything in RMC for TWC either although it is in RM2 but can't find mention of shield bash. It looks like the shield bash attack is granted without developing it as a TWC skill.

Things to consider are a character would burn through x2 exhaustion points if swinging a shield bash and weapon in the same round. Also is a shield bash attack feasible in the same round as a weapon attack if the weapon is long?

(Although to be "realistic" a departure from normal RM2 should probably add a "wield shield" skill due to a character's stance, balance and movement being significantly altered between using a sword without a shield and using a sword with a shield.
Wield shield and weapon OB's would be averaged (shield skill usable OB could not be higher than the primary weapon) for attacks and thus form the basis of a shield bash attack carried out.

[Peter R]

TWC doesn't exist in RMC. It was replaced by fighting styles in the Combat Companion.

[Witchking20k]

A TWC skill has always seemed over complicated to me anyway.  Sword & Board is classic and would include using a shield as a weapon IMO.